Launder.



J. E. HUGHES.

LAUNDER.

APPLIOATION FILED APB. 19 1911.

Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

COLUMBM PLANOGIAPH $0.. WASHINGTON, D C.

JOHN EDWARD HUGHES, OF MEXICO, MEXICO.

LAUNDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 19, 1911.

Patented Nov. '7, 1911.

Serial N0. 622,027.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARD HUGHES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mexico city, Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Launders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in launders for passing pul'p into tanks or other receptacles wherein the pulp is to be subjected to some special treatment.

The tanks wherein the pulp is treated are situated at difierent points'along the length of the launder. Heretofore the flow of the pulp has been controlled by a combination of gates or by a double gate construction, operable to provide for the passage of the pulp into a particular tank and to prevent the passage of the pulp into the remaining tanks. In this double or combination gate construction, it is necessary to open one gate and to close the other and to lute the closed gate with clay or equivalent material.

The object of the present invention is to provide a launder wherein the operation of controlling the flow of the pulp is materially simplified and wherein the necessity for luting with extraneous material is avoided, since the construction is such that the solid matter of the pulp serves as a luting for the closure devices by which the flow of pulp is controlled.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved launder; Fig. 2 is an en larged cross sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the transferring hoppers or spouts, of which several are arranged along the length of the launder.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The launder comprises a trough 1 made, for example, of sheet metal, and provided at suitable points along its bottom wall with depending transfer hoppers 2. These hoppers are preferably of conical outline, and are suitably formed in a plate 3 which has at its side edges vertical flanges 4 which lie against the side walls of the trough 1 and are suitably attached to the latter, as by rivets. The bottom wall of the troughis formed with openings 5 which are coextensive with the width of said wall and are preferably ofrectangular outline. The flow of material through the hoppers 2 is controlled by suitable closure devices, one for each hopper, and these closure devices consist of plugs of suitable shape for the purposes contemplated. The closure devices shown consist of'balls, as 6, which are proportioned to fit closelv, but not tightly, in the reduced lower ends of the hoppers 2. The plugs 6 are carried by chains 7 which are attached to the trough 1 at suitable points.

In Fig. 1, one of the plugs 6 at the left of the drawings is shown in closed position, and the other plug 6 at the right of the drawings is withdrawn from its corresponding hopper, permitting of the passage of material through the latter into a tank A. The entrance mouth of the hopper has a diameter which corresponds to the width of the bottom of the trough and this diameter is of such extent that when the hopper is open material passing along the trough will pass wholly through the hopper but cannot back up and pass over or across the open hopper to the next adjacent hopper.

Manifestly, to open a hopper, all that is required is to pull upon the chain and remove the closure plug, and, on the other hand, to close the hopper, all that is required is to drop the plug into position. These operations are much simpler than the operations of the double gate arrangements now used. Furthermore, when a plug is allowed to drop to the small end of the hopper to close the same, it is unnecessary to apply a luting, since the solid matter of the pulp will in a comparatively short time pack the crevice or interstice between the closure plug and the hopper, and thus prevent the escape of material therethrough. From the above description, it will be apparent that the construction herein proposed simplifies the operations necessary, results in a saving of time, promotes convenience, and is materially simpler and less expensive than the construction ordinarily employed.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A launder comprising a trough having its bot-tom wall provided at suitable points with depending hoppers, the entrance openings of which have a diameter which is coextensive with the width of said bottom wall, and the discharge openings of which are constricted and a closely, but not tightly, fitting plug for closing the constricted discharge end of each hopper, the plugs being removable from the hopper.

2. A launder comprising a trough having its bottom wall provided at suit-able points with depending conical hoppers, the entrance ends of which are co-eXtensive in diameter with the width of said bottom wall, a ball proportioned to closely, but not tightly, fit into the constricted lower end of each hopper, and a chain attached to the trough carrying the ball.

8. A launder comprising a trough having its bottom wall formed at suitable points with openings co-extensive with the width of said bottom wall, plates secured to the trough and arranged under each opening, the plates having side flanges which are attached to the side walls of the trough and having each a hopper, the entrance end of which is co-eXtensive in diameter with the width of the trough, a plug proportioned to closely, but not tightly, fit the discharge end of the hopper, and a chain carrying the plug and attached to the trough.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN EDWARD HUGHES. Witnesses:

Ron. HEMMPEL, GEO. MUGDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

